Ignition switch



Dec. 29, 1931.

F. w. ANDREW ET AL IGNITION SWITCH Filed Sept. 29. 1927 irl@ om M @W f 6 44 M .Jfwnw VW JTW W2/k3 ,y1 3 1 4 l? 13 6 o 0 #|-l w 4L au@ oo 0 190* 6 M 1 an 1 0 1 O y f 9 1? /u 3 0 7 0 3 fwn@ am 7 2 f n f A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK W. ANDREW, OF ANDALUSIA, .AND WILSON HEMINGWAY, JR., OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '.lO THE ELEGTROLOCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, A.

CORPORATION OF MISSISSIPPI IGNITION SWITGH A Application led September 29, 1927. Serial No. 222,714.

@ur linvention relates to ignition switches which are adapted for use in controlling the ignition circuit of automobiles and the like and the circuit through an electric gasoline gauge.

The general object of the invention 1s to provide a switch which is simple in construction, but novel in characterand which includes means whereby when the circuit of the ignition system is closed or opened, a like effect is produced upon the circuit through an electric gasoline gauge.

It also is an object of the inventlon to rovide a novel construction of switch inclu ing a support for a contact member which is mounted upon a swivel, whereby it may adapt itself to a plurality of other contacts located in side by s ide relation to each other and with which it must contact in operation.

To these and other ends the invention comprehends the construction hereinafter d escribed in detail, particularly pointed out m the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which we have shown a preferred form of mechanical embodiment of the same. It will be understood that the Iinvention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction and that changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope-,of the claims without departing from the Spirit of the invention or the principle thereof.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated, reference may be had to the accompanyingV drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal central section of a switch lock structure embodying the invention, the circuits controlled thereby being indicated diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with-the -'wiring omitted and with parts of the .switch structure in diierent relative positions from those in which they are shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in bottom plan of certain of the contacts lshown `in the preceding figures mounted within and supported by a tubular sleeve 2 which in turn is mounted within and supported by a tubular supporting sleeve 3 having ears 4 thereon, which are secured by spot welding or otherwise to the plate 5, constituting the instrument board or a part of the instrument board structure of an automobile. The sleeve 2 is permanently secured to and held within the tubular supporting sleeve 3 by being connected thereto by means of spot4 welding or otherwise. is detachably held within the tubular sleeve 2 by means of a binding screw 6. The casing 1 is provided with an elongated opening 10 A block 11 of insulating material of considerable length is mounted within the casing 1 inside of the opening 10 and is provided with an elongated projection or rib 12 which projects through the said opening. The inner side of the block 11 is provided at its opposite edges with'grooves 13 of right angular shape in cross section. lThe block l1 is adapted to be held in position with the projection 12 extending through the opening 10 by means of a wedge 15, the opposite edges of which are tapered as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and contact with the bottoms of the grooves 13, which also are tapered. In assembling the casing, the block and the wedge, the block, having the contacts thereon which will be hereinafter described, is rst placed inv position with the projection 12 thereof extending through the opening 10 after which the wedge 15 is inserted as shown in the drawings. The wedge may be described generally as being of semicircular shape in cross section, but preferably its opposite sides are somewhat flattened as indicated at 16 in Fig. 3. The wedge having been placed in position it is vapparent that the block cannot be removed from the casing The casing 1 1 without first removing the said wedge. The inner end of the block 11 of insulating material rests against a washer 17 of insulating material in the bottom of the casing 1. The said washer in turn rests at its outer edges against the inner flanged en'd of a metal thimble 18, which projects into and the ange of which engages the inner side of an inwardly extending flange 19 upon the inner end of the casing 1. A contact spring 20 of angular shape is secured at its inner end by means of a binding screw 21 to the inner end. of the block 11. The said binding screw contacts with a binding post 22, which is mounted within an opening 23 which eX- tends transversely through the block 11 and terminates upon the outer edge of the side of' the projection or rib 12. The said binding post 22 is held in position Within the said opening by the said binding screw 21. The said binding screw also engages and holds in place a tab 25, to which the outer end of an electric current conducting wire 26 is connected, which wire is connected at its opposite end to a timer device 27. The said wireis surrounded and protected by a sheathing of insulation 28, which in turn is surrounded by a coil of wire 29, While the latter is still further protected by a relatively heavy coil of Wire 30. Theinner ends of the wires 29 and 30 contact with a washer 31 of insulating material located within the thimble 18.

The outer adjoining ends of the wires 29 and 30 are connected together and the latter are permanently secured within the thimble 18, to which I have previously referred. Contacts 40 and 41 are mounted in spaced relation to each other upon the inner side of the block 11 of insulating material. These contacts are of angular shape as shown in Fig'. 4. Thespring contact portions 42 and 43 thereof, extend in opposite directions with respect to each other and are located in alinement with each other in a direction transversely of the block 11.' A binding post 44 is located within an opening 45'which eX- tends part Way through the block 11, the outer end of said opening terminating in the outer side of the rib or projection 12. The inner end of the opening 45 terminates in a reduced opening 46 for the reception of a re duced portion 47 of the binding post 44. The said reduced portion 47 extends through whatmay be termed the base portion of the contact 40 and is upset as shown to secure the same to the block 11. The block 11 is also provided with a third opening 50, the outer end of which opens upon the outer surface of the projection 12. The inner end of the said' opening terminates in a reduced opening 51 for the reception of the reduced end portion 52 of a binding post 53, located within the said opening 50. The reduced end portion 52 extends through an opening in the base portion of the contact 4l and is upset to seing outer surface of the projection or rib 12 to which I have previously referred.

An electric current conductin line is connected at one end to the binding post 22, i

being detachably secured thereto by means of a binding screw 61. The opposite end of the said line 6() is connected to one end or side of the primary coil 62 of a transformer 6, the opposite end or side of whichV coil is connected by a. wire 63 to the binding post 44, being secured thereto by a binding screw 64. An electric current conductin wire or line 65 is connected at one end to t e binding post 55 and is secured thereto by means of a binding screw 66. The oppositeA end of said wire is connected to the positive side of a battery 67, the opposite side of which is grounded as indicated at 68. An electric current conducting Wire is connected at one end to the binding post 44 and its opposite end to a gasoline gauge indicated at 71, of known construction, which is grounded as indicated at 72.

A switch locking device is mounted in th-e front end portion of the switch casing 1 and is adapted to reciprocate therein. It is retained therein against removal by a screw 76 mounted thereon, the outer end of which engages in a slot 77 provided in the adjoining portion of the casing 1. The screw and slot are indicated in dash lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The locking cylinder of the locking device is provided upon its inner end with a small metal bracket 80, which is provided With a rivet 81 upon which is swiveled a metal plate 82, which extends inwardly from the said locking device. The said plate 82 is provided at its front or outer end with a depending liange portion 83, provided with an opening through which the rivet 81 extends and upon which rivet the said plate 82 is swiveled.- A relatively thin sheet of insulating material 84 is mounted upon the sheet 82, being located upon the upper side therof in the construction as illustrated, although such rearrang. ment of the parts might be made as would locate the said sheet upon the lower side of the metal supporting plate 82. The metal supporting plate 82 and the sheet 84 of insulating material, move in and out as the locking device 75 is reciprocated or moved in and out in the casing 1 and such in and out movement causes the said sheet of insulating material and the plate '82 to move back and forth between the contact portions of the contacts 20, 40 and 41. The sheet 84 of insulating material is provided upon the upper side of its inner end portion with a. contact plate 86 which is secured thereto by means of rivets 87. l/Vhen the locking device is moved into locking position, a locking bolt 90 moves transversely thereof and enters openings 91 and 92 in the casing 1 and sleeve 2 Within which the casing is supported. The said casing is thereby locked to the sleeve so that it may not be removed except by someone who is provided with a ke The locking bolt 90 is pressed outwardly by means of a spring not shown and is adapted to be withdrawn from the openings 91 and 92 by means of a key 93. Interposged between the innerend of the locking device 75 and the outer end of the block l1 and the wedge 15, is a coiled spring 95, which tends'to expand and consequently tends to force and hold the locking device 7 5 in its outermost position, in which position it is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the latter position the locking device is unlocked and the contact 86 is in contact with the contact portions 42 and 43 of the contacts and 41 to close the circuit through the ignition system, including the timer device 27 and the transformer coil 62 and the gasoline gauge indicated at 71. The plate 82 and the sheet 84 of insulating material supported thereby being mounted to swivel upon the rivet 81, it follows that the flat plate contact 86 makes close and even contact with both of the contact portions 42-and 43 of the contacts 40 and 41 so that current may flow readily from the line 65 through the contact 41, the contact 86, the contact 40 and thence through the binding post 44 to the 'line 63 to the primary coil of the transformer 62, thence through the coil 60, the binding post 22, through the conducting line 26 to the timer device 27 and thence to ground and back to the negative side of the battery 67. Current also flows at such times through the conducting wire to the gasoline gauge indicated at 71 and thence to the ground 72 and back to the battery 67.

Upon movement of the locking device 75 inwardly into locking position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, moved inwardly beyond and out of contact with the contact portions ofthe contacts 40 and 41 and the metal supporting plate 82 is brought into contact with the contact plate or spring 20 as shown, which results in grounding the conductin wire 26 which is connected with the timer evice 27 and thereby prevents the completion of the ignition circuit through the battery 67 or other source of electrical energy, except by someone provided with a proper key for unlocking the locking device 75 to permit it to return to the unlocked positon in which it is shownv in Fig. "1 of the drawings.

When the locking device is in locking position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted not only that the ignition circuit, but also that the circuit through the gasoline gauge indicated at 71 is broken, thereby preventing a waste of current through the gauge unless the circuit therethrough and including the same were broken.

the contact 86 is- Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric switch comprising two contact devices located in spaced relation to each other, and a. swiveled contact member common to the said two contact devices, and adapted to be moved into and out of contact therewith to close and open the said circuits.

2. An electric switch comprising two contact devices located in spaced relation to each other, said contacts being common to two electric circuits, and a swiveled contact member common to the said two contact devices and adapted to be moved into and out of contact therewith to close and open the said circuits, and means adapted to ground one of the said circuits when the said swiveled Contact member is out of contact with said two contact devices.

3. An electric switch comprising two contacts, a contact adapted to be moved into and out of contact simultaneously with the said two contacts, and a swiveled support for the said contact which is common to the saidtwo contacts.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a switch casing, a block of insulating material mounted in the inner end portion thereof, a

plurality of contacts mounted upon the inner side of said block, the contact portions of said contacts being located in spaced relation to each other, a locking device mounted in the outer end portion of the said casing and adapted to be reciprocated therein, a sheet of 'insulating material mounted upon the inner end portion of the said locking device, the said sheet of insulation having swiveled connection with the said locking device whereby it is adapted to rotate about an axis extending parallel with the axis of the said casing, a contact plate mounted upon the inner end portion of the said sheet of insulating material, said contact plate being adapted to be moved slidablv into and out of contact with the said two contacts.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of a switch casing, a block of insulating material mounted in the inner end portion thereof, a plurality of contacts mountedupon the inner side of said block, the contact portions of said contacts being located in spaced relation to each other, a locking device mounted in the outer end portion of the said casing and adapted to be reciprocated therein, a sheet of insulating material mounted upon the inner end portion of the said locking device, the said sheet of insulation having swiveled connection with the said locking device whereby it is adapted 'to rotate about an axis extending parallel with the axis of the said casing, a contact plate mounted upon the inner end portion of the said sheet of insulating material, said contact plate being adapted to be moved slidably into andy out of contact with the said contacts, a contact located in spaced relation. to said plurality of contacts, and means for grounding said last named contact when said contact plate is out of contact with said plurality of contacts.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of a switch casing, a. block of'insulating material mounted therein, a plurality of contacts mounted upon the inner side of the said block, said contacts having contact portions in spaced relation with respect to each other and in alinement transversely of the axis of the said casing, a locking device mounted in the outer end portion of the said casing, which locking device is adapted to be reciprocated in the said casing into and out of locking position, a metal supporting device mounted upon a swivel supported upon the inner end portion of the said locking device, a sheet of insulating material mounted upon the said metal supporting device, said sheet of insulating material having a metal contact mounted upon one side of its inner end portion, which contact is adapted to be moved slidably into and out of contact with the said plurality of contacts.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of a switch casing, a block of insulating material mounted therein, a plurality of contacts mounted upon the inner side of the said block, said contacts having contact portions in spaced relation with respect to each other and in alinement transversely of the axis of the said casing, a locking device mounted in the y outer end portion of the said casing, which locking device is adapted to be reciprocated in the said casing into and out of locking position,ametal supporting device mounted upon a swivel supported upon the inner end portion of thesaid locking device, a sheet of insulating material mounted upon the said metal supporting device said sheet of insulating material having a contact plate mounted upon one side of its innerend portion, which plate is adapted to be moved slidably into and out of contact with the said plurality of contacts, and a contact supported in spaced relation to and insulated from said plurality of contacts and adapted to contact with said metal supporting device when the locking device occupies its locking position whereby the said last named contact is grounded.

8. An electric switch comprising two contact devices located in spaced relation to each other, a swiveled contact member common to the said two contact devices and adapted to be moved into and out of contact therewith, a third contact, and means for grounding the latter when the said swiveled Contact member is out of contact with the said two contact devices.

9. An electric switch comprising a plurality of contact devices arranged in side by side relation to veach other, a contact device located in spaced relation to the said plurality of contacts, a movable contact movable back and forth between the said plurality of contacts and the said contact, and means for grounding the latter when the said movable Contact is out of contact with the said pluralityof contact devices.

10. An electric switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts located in side by side relation to each other, means for insulating the said contacts from each other, a.

stationary contact located in spaced relation to the said plurality of contacts, a single contact for contacting with the said plurality of contacts, a sheet of insulating material upon which the said single contact is mounted, and a pivotally movable metal support for the said sheet of insulating material, the axis of the pivotal movement of the ,said support being substantially parallel with the plane of the said single contact, and the said second named contact contacting with the said pivotally movable support when the said sin le contact is out of contact with the said p urality of contacts.

11. An electric switch comprising Aa plurality of stationary contacts, means for insulating the said contacts from each other, a contact supported in spaced relation to the said plurality of contacts, a locking means which is movable inwardly and outwardly of the said switch, a swiveled supporting device mounted upon said locking means and movable inwardly and outwardly therewith, a portion of said means being located between the said plurality of contacts and the second named Contact, and a contact mounted upon the said swiveled supporting device and movable with the latter into and out of contact with the said plurality of contacts.

12. An electric switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, means for insulating said contacts from each other, a contact sup orted in spaced relation to said plurality ci) stationary contacts, a sheet of insulating material located between said plurality of stationary contacts and thev second named contact, a contact mounted upon said sheet of insulating material and adapted to contact simultaneously with the said plurality of stationary contacts, means for pivotally supporting the said sheet of insulating material, means whereby the said sheet ofv insulating material with the contact carried thereby is movable longitudinally to move the said contact carried thereby into and out v means for insulating said contacts from each other, a locking device mounted within the v said switch casing and adapted to be reciprocated therein, a sheet of insulating material carried by said locking device and extending between said contacts, and a contact carried by said sheet of insulating material and adapted to be slidably moved into and out of contact with the said plurality of contacts by the movements of the said locking device out of and into locking position.

Intestimony whereof the said v W. ANDREW has hereunto signed his name this 13th day of Sept. 1927 and the said WIL- SON HEMINGWAY, Jr., has hereunto signed his name this 21st da of September 1927. FREDER; CK W. ANDREW. WILSON HEMINGWAY, JR. 

